On October 8, 2016, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Zhang Dejiang met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister António Costa of Portugal.

Zhang Dejiang said that at present, China-Portugal relations are at the best time in history. Both sides enjoy firm political mutual trust and continuously deepening practical cooperation in various fields. During your visit in China, President Xi Jinping and you have reached important consensus on reinforcing cooperation in all fields, which will further lead and push forward the development of China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership. For a long time, the NPC and the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal, as supporters and promoters of China-Portugal friendly cooperation, have maintained friendly exchanges. Both legislative bodies should focus on improving the level of cooperation, strengthen the pertinence and effectiveness of cooperation, actively boost practical cooperation, people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as non-governmental exchanges and forge a better policy, legal and security environment for bilateral cooperation and exchanges in order to cement the solid social and public opinion foundation for bilateral relations.

António Costa expressed that both countries share a long-term friendly relationship and a high level of political mutual trust. The Portuguese side is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China so as to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.